Articles by Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP)
Opposition politician threatens legal action against newspaper
(CEMESP/IFEX) – An opposition politician of the Liberia Action Party, Counselor Varney Sherman, has threatened to take “The Analyst” newspaper, one of Liberia’s dailies, to court. Sherman says he will sue the newspaper for publishing his photograph in a story captioned “Opposition Parties Sponsor Isakaba.” “Isakaba” is the term used to refer to groups of […]
Government cancels radio talk show; programme host receives death threat
(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 10 September 2006, local government authorities of Margibi County in rural Liberia ordered the cancellation of a talk show on local community radio station Radio Kakata in Kakata, Margibi County. According to the local government authorities, the show was called off because of the tension that is brewing between supporters of the […]
Minister threatens libel suit against newspaper
(CEMESP/IFEX) ? “The News” newspaper, one of Liberia’s leading dailies, has been threatened with a lawsuit by Liberia’s assistant finance minister, Aletha Browne. Assistant Minister Browne, in her communications to the management of “The News”, threatened to file a legal action against the newspaper for defamation. The assistant minister’s threat followed an article published in […]
President attacks journalists’ ethics in recent speech, calls for media reform
(CEMESP/IFEX) – Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has angrily attacked Liberian journalists, describing some of them as “check-book journalists”. Sirleaf unleashed the attack on journalists when she delivered the commencement address at the United Methodist University on 23 August 2006. Addressing the graduating class of the university, Madam Sirleaf said Liberian journalists have replaced sensitization […]
Journalist beaten by rioting university students
(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 25 August 2006, students at the University of Liberia assaulted a Liberian journalist who attempted to photograph scenes of rioting on the university’s main campus in Monrovia. Journalist Robert Jadoe of the “New Vision” newspaper also had his digital camera damaged by the students, who were angered that he took a photograph […]
Presidency threatens to exclude media outlets from coverage
(CEMESP/IFEX) – The Executive Mansion, the seat of Liberia’s presidency, has announced that it is considering the option of selecting specific media institutions to provide media coverage. Presidential Press Secretary Cyrus Badio made the disclosure on 21 August 2006 at a news briefing in Monrovia. He said he is also contemplating limiting press briefings from […]
President appoints committee to investigate wave of attacks on journalists by state security agents
(CEMESP/IFEX) – Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has appointed a presidential committee to investigate the recent wave of harassment, intimidation, assault and molestation of journalists by state security agents. The members of the committee include Deputy Information Minister Elizabeth Hoff and lawyer Beyan Howard, who will co-chair it, as well as George Williams of Liberia […]
Presidential bodyguards detain and harass four journalists
(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 13 June 2006, four local journalists were harassed and briefly detained at Liberia’s State House, the Executive Mansion, by security personnel. Journalists Abas Dulleh of the “New Democrat” newspaper, Patrick Honnah of Truth FM radio, Olando Zeongar of “Heritage” newspaper and Jallah Grayfield of the Catholic Radio Veritas were ordered detained by […]